So there'll be a fresh pride of lions on the prowl in South Africa next year!

Eight straight for England in the World Cup qualifying group stages and a bundle of goals taking them to the top of the hit parade.

We mustn't lose sight of the fact that Spain and Holland also have a perfect eight so far, and while they don't match England on the scoring charts they both have better defensive records, which is obviously worth considering.

The ease with which England dismissed Croatia at Wembley also suggests Fabio Capello is fairly close to completing the blueprint for a serious run at the World Cup in 2010.

Any fears that he would mould his England team into a replica of Italian style - primarily brick-wall defence and lethal breakaways - have surely be allayed with progression through the group matches that has seen steady improvement all the way.

And there are one or two crucial features beginning to emerge that perhaps we didn't bargain for. Especially after the sad, rain-soaked exit of Steve McClaren in November, 2007, following England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008, ironically after a Wembley defeat at the hands of Croatia.

A 4-1 and 5-1 double over the Croats this time shows just how much England have progressed while the red-and-white checks have gone in the opposite direction.

Capello must now have a very good idea of the squad he will be taking to Johannesburg next summer. Glen Johnson, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney booked their tickets some time ago.

But no-one has fought harder to make sure he's on the plane than Aaron Lennon, who has shot to the top of the candidates for David Beckham's famed No.7 wing berth.

David Bentley, Shaun Wright-Phillips and even the aging Beckham himself have all been given a fair chance, but Lennon has been outstanding when given the nod by England's Italian coach.

Spurs rescued the pocket rocket from Leeds United in 2005 when the Yorkshire club faced virtual extinction, and Harry Redknapp has never questioned the young winger's ability. He's fast, he's tricky, he's elusive and he's got the makings of a World Cup revelation.

His ability to cross the ball a la Beckham remains a problem, but I have to say there nothing wrong with his delivery from which Gerrard scored England's second goal with a powerful header.

Capello has two more meaningless qualifying games to put the final touches to his 2010 World Cup preparations.

Don't expect to see many new faces - but get used to the idea of Lennon 'Beatling' up and down that right flank!